Feeler mechanism for looms



2 W. LANGUIRAND FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Ilay 15'. s Sheets-Sheet 1 2 5 l 4 2 5 3 m m 1/ iii //v l/ENTOf? G wry-W2.

A T fdRA/EY 1,507,122 w. LANGUIRAND FEELER MECHANISM FOR LO0MS Filed my 15. 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTO'R" WM MML BY I 1 r A TTOAINEY Sept 2, 1924- 1,507,122 w. LANGUIRAND FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed May 15. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I emllllllllll'lfm,

TOR.

FTORNEY Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LANG-UIRAND, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER CORPORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filetLMay 15,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be. it known that I, WILLIAM LAXGUIRAND, .v citizen of the United States, residing at :lew Bedford, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanism for Looms, of which the following description. in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to looms and more particularly to looms of the feeler typo wherein mechanism is provided to effect a change in the loom operation when the filling in the shuttle is substantially exhausted but prior to complete exhaustion.

Such change in the operation of looms of this type may be stoppage of the loom, but more frequently it consists of replenishing the filling in the shuttle before the working supply is completely exhausted or run out, that the loom may continue nninterruptcdly in operation and weave perfect cloth.

Ordinarily such replenishment of filling is effected by a feeler mechanism in which a feelerenters the shuttle on each detecting beat of the lay and contacts with the filling and on detection of substantial exhaustion of the filling the feeler initiates filling replenishment. This constantly recurring contact of the feeler with the filling is liable to injure some kinds of filling, especially where the filling is formed of silk or other types of delicate yarn. It has therefore been proposed to lock the feeler in retracted or front position until the filling has been depleted to an extent approaching substantial exhaustion and then free the feeler to the performance of its filling detecting function that it may call for a change of filling when substantially exhaustion thereof is finall reached. lhis has not been altogether satisfactory, because as heretofore constructed the quantity of filling in the shuttle on a de tecting beat has determined the time when the feeler should be freed from the lock control, and consequently irregularities in spinning and winding the filling introduced uncertainties of operation.

One of the objects of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a feeler mechanism in which the feeler may have short periods of activity and intervening periods of inactivity during weaving with the same 1923. Serial No. 639,090.

supply of filling in the shuttle until the filling approaches the danger point, whereupon the feeler may remain active until substantial exhaustion of filling is reached and then initiate replenishment of filling.

The intermittent periods of action and inaction of the feeler mechanism, in accordance with the present invention, are controlled by means operating synchronously with some part of the loom. It is inex'pedient, however, to add a separate train of mechanism to the already complicated loom structure, therefore an important feature of the present invention consists in controlling the feeler mechanism as. to its periods of action and inaction from the take-up mechanism.

In accordance with the present invention, the feeler is normally under the influence of a spring tending tomove it to feeling position, and means are provided for holding the feeler retracted or in an inoperative position for relatively long periods and then to free it from the control of the holding means that it may become active for shorter periods, the controlling means being actuated from the take-up.

In the present instance the feeler is shown as of the inclined type and will be described in connection therewith, although the invention is not limited in this respect and any form of feeler may be advantageously employed. the essential in this respect being that the feeler shall be controlled as to its periods of activity and inactivity from a train of simple mechanism actuated from the take-up.

The take-up mechanism may be of any of the usual types containing in its train a rotary elementwith which an actuator is associated for freeing the feeler at intervals to its feeling function.

The various features of the present invention and new combination of par-ts will best be made clear fro-m the following description and the accompanying drawings of one good form thereof.

Tn the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a 'perspectivewiew of the feeler side of a loom showing the present invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a front view on a large scale showing one form of the take-up mechanism and means operated therefrom for rendering the feeler active at intervals during weatinn virith the same supply of filling in the shutt e;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of ig. 4 is a detached detail showing the feeler mechanism and its associated parts with the feeler being moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling in the shuttle; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4 but showing the relation of the feeler mechanism and its holding means when, on a detecting beat, the feeler detects depletion of filling in the shuttle to a predetermined extent.

Associated with the feeler is a train of 'mechanism for initiating filling replenishment when the feeler detects substantial exhaustion of the filling, but the details of the replenishing mechanism are not here-in shown, as they form no part of the present invention.

The loom frame 1 may be of any usual construction surmounted by a breast beam 2 having the bearings 3, one at each side of the loom, for supporting the transverse or rock shaft 4 which is of usual construction and is connected to the replenishing mechanism to initiate filling replenishment when the rock shaft 4 is rocked, as usual in this type of loom.

Extending upwardly from the rock shaft 4 is an arm 5 to which is pivoted at 6 an arm 7, the rear end portion of which is adapted to be engaged by an operating member 8 which may be conveniently formed as a partof or be secured to the cam follower. In the present instance, the arm 7 has pivotally mounted thereon at 9 a rearwardly extending member 10, the rear end portion of which is adapted to be engaged by the operating member 8 when the feeler detects sub-- stantial exhaustion of the. filling in the shuttle. The pivoted member 10 has a portion 11 overlying one arm of the ball crank lever 12 pivotally mounted at 13' on a support 14. secured to the loom frame at 15. The downwardly extending arm of the bell crank lever 12 is connected to a transmitter 16 which. is itself connected to a slide 17 mounted on the feeler stand, the construction being such that should the slide 17 be moved laterally. or to the right in Fig. 1, the operating member 8 will engage the end portion 10 of the pivoted member and effect rocking movement of the transverse or rock shaft to initiate replenishment of filling.

Extending from the loom frame is the shipper stand 18 to which is adjustably secured the feeler stand 19. In the present instance, the feeler 20 is of the inclined type and passes through an opening in the slide 17 at the rear portion of thefeeler stand. The frontwardly extending portion of the feeler passes through a swivel bearing 21 supported by a bracket 22 mounted on the feeler stand.

The lay 23 is provided with the shuttle box 24, the front wall 25 of which is provided with an opening 26 which registers with a corresponding opening 27 in the shuttle 28 when the latter is in the shuttle box 24, the construction being such that the toothed end portion 29 of the feeler 20 may enter the openings 26 and 27 and feel for the filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat.

The feeler 20 is provided with a support or bridge 30 between which and the front bearing 21 is a spring 31 normally tending to move the feeler 20 to its rearward feeling position. The construction thus far described may be substantially as more fully shown and described in the patent to Edward S. Stimpson, No. 1,309,226, dated July 8, 1919, to which reference may be had.

In accordance with the present invention the feeler 20 is to be held retracted or in its frontward inoperative position for an interval of time and then freed from the holding means that it may move into feeling position to detect the condition of the filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat, and if a working supply of filling still remains within the shuttle the feeler is to be moved frontward again into the control of the holding means, until at the expiration of the period of inactivity the feeler is again released to move to feeling position.

Adjustably mounted at the side of the feeler stand 19 is a block 32 having a slot 33 through which passes a set screw 34 for holding the block in adjusted position. Secured to the front end portion of the block 32 is the adjusting screw 35 which passes through the projection 36 secured, in the present instance, to the front portion of the feeler stand by screws 37. Threaded to the screw 35 in front of the block 36 is a knurled wheel 38. the construction being such that upon rotary movement of the knurled wheel 38 the block 32 may be adjusted towards or from the front of the loom. To prevent accidental rotation of the screw 35 a spring finger 39 may be secured to the block 36 and normally engaged with the knurled recessed surface in the periphery of the wheel 38. Further to insure against accidental turning movement of the screw 35, a set nut 40 may be threaded with the screw 35 and bear against the knurled wheel 38.

Pivotally connected to the block 32 is a catch for holding the feeler in retracted position. In the present instance, the block 32 has a downwardly extending lug 41 to which is pivoted at 42 the catch 43, and in order to guide the catch in its pivotal movement the shouldered portion 44 thereon may enter a recess in the rear end portion of the block 32, as indicated in Fig. 5.

The catch 43 has an end portion 45 provided with a series of teeth 46, which, as shown, are at different distances from the front of the loom, and connected to the bridge of the feeler is a shoulder or tooth 47 which is adapted to engage one of the teeth 46 of the catch when the feeler is moved frontwardly by a. working supply of filling in the shuttle. The construction is such that should the toothed end portion of the feeler engage a Working supply of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat, the feeler will be moved frontwardly carrying the shoulder or tooth 47 frontward of the toothed end portion 45 of the catch, whereupon one of the teeth 46 will engage the shoulder or tooth 47 and hold the feeler in retracted position.

Pivotally connected to the catch 43 at 48 is a controller arm or rod, having a yielding or spring portion which normally holds the catch 43 in its upward or operative position for engagement with the shoulder or-tooth 47, and in order that the catch 43 may be depressed against the upward impulse of the spring to be presently described, the rear end portion of the toothed end 45 is curved,

as at 49, and similarly, the shoulder or tooth 47 is curved at 50, so that as the feeler is moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling on a detecting beat, the two curved surfaces will co-operate to effect depression of the catch 43 to permit the shoulder or tooth 47 to move frontwardly beyond the toothed end of the catch, whereupon the impulse of the spring or yielding member of the actuator will cause the catch to move again to its operative holding position.

In the present instance of the invention, the controller rod or arm 51 has threaded thereto a sleeve 52 having a telescoping connection at 53 with a rod 54 which is pivotally connected to the catch at 48. A spring 55 ,interposed between the shoulder 56 and the end portion of the sleeve 52 normally holdsthe catch in its upward operative position. The portion 53 of the rod 54 has a collar 57 somewhat larger than the entrance opening of the sleeve 52, the construction being such that when the parts are in the position indicated in Fig. 4 and the controller rod is depressed, the-catch 43 will be moved out of operative position to permit the feeler to move to feeling position. and when the catch is in operative position. to permit the shoulder or tooth 47 to move frontwardly of the toothed end 45 of the catch by depressing the latter against the action of the spring 55.

To provide for adjustment of the controller rod 51, the latter may be threaded as at 58, Fig. 4, and engage a screw thread in the plug or cap piece 59 which extends into the sleeve 52.

The lower end of the controller rod 51 has a pivoted connection at 60 to a rocker which is actuated from the take-up mechanism. In the present instance the rocker 61 comprises a bell crank lever pivotally mounted at 62 and having an upwardly extending arm 63 from which projects a. pin 64 which engages a block or shoulder portion 65 on a finger 66. The finger 66 is mounted for endwise movement in suitable bearings secured to the loom frame, which in the present instance are constituted as end portions of a plate 67 secured to a bracket member 68 which is itself mounted upon the loom frame 1. The finger 66 carries the block or shoulder 65 and is normally under the influence of a spring 69 tending to hold the finger in its idle position. From the construction thus far described it will be apparent that should the finger 66 be moved endwise against the tension of its holding spring 69, it will cause the bell crank 61 to be turned upon its pivotal support in a contra clockwise direction, thereby pulling down on the controller rod 51 and freeing the catch 43 from engagement with the feeler shoulder or lug to thereby permit the feeler to move it to its feeling position.

Mounted between the side of the loom frame 1 and the bracket 70 extending between the breast beam and a cross-girth 71 of the loom is the take-up mechanism, which in the present'instance comprises a toothed wheel 72 which may be actuated from a gear 73 driven from a going part of the loom. In the present instance, the gear 73 is mounted on the usual worm shaft carrying the worm 74 driven by the driven worm shaft 75 from the under or cam shaft 76 of the loom. The toothed wheel thereon consists of one of a. series of rotary members constituting thetake-up, the other of said members being indicated in Fig. 1 as 77, 78, 79, the latter of which meshes with a gear 80 on the sand or take-up roll. There is nothing peculiar or novel in the take-up mechanism itself because'it may be and is shown as of usual construction, and instead of being driven from the gear 73, the train of take-up mechanism may be driven from some other source of power, as is common in other types of take-up mechanisms.

The toothed wheel 72 is provided with a series of openings 81 which in the present instance are formed in the spokes of the wheel 72, and connected to the toothed wheel 72 of the train of take-up mechanism is an actuator for tripping the latch and freeing the feeler to the performance of its feeling function. The actuator as shown is formed as a pin 82 having a rounded head 83 and detachably secured to the toothed wheel 72. One or more of such actuators may be connected to the toothed wheel, depending upon the periods of inactivity desired for the feeler.

The finger 66, as hereinbefore described, is normally under the influence of the spring 69 which maintains the inner end of the finger in the path of the actuator 82, so that as the toothed Wheel 72 is given its rotary movement to effect the cloth take-up, it will advance the actuator 82 until when it comes in contact with the end of the finger 66 it will move the finger 66 outwardly against 'the tension of its spring 69 and through the rise to its operating position to engage the shoulder or finger 47 of the feeler when the latter is again moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling in the shuttle.

If it be assumed that the feeler is in its rearward feeling position and a working supply of filling is in the shuttle on a detecting beat, the feeler will be moved frontwardly by the mass of filling, and the rounded surfaces 49 and 50 on the catch and feeler respectively will cause the catch to be depressed against the tension of its spring 55, thereby permittin the shoulder or tooth 47 to move frontwar ly and be engaged by one of the teeth 46 of the catch to hold the feeler in its retracted position as the lay goes back. As the filling is being withdrawn from the shuttle during the weaving operation, the next time the feeler engages the filling during One of its periods of activity, it will not be moved frontwardly quite so far as before, but owing to the disposition of the teeth 46 on the catch, the feeler will engage one of the said teeth and be held in its appropriate frontward or retracted position. When, on a detecting beat, during a period of activity of the feeler, the latter detects a near approach to substantial exhaustion of the filling, it will again be moved frontwardly but not sufiiciently to cause the shoulder or tooth 4-7 of the feeler to engage one of the teeth of the catch, as indicated in Fig. 5,and thereafter the feeler will remain in active position until, upon detection of substantial exhaustion of the filling. the feeler will initiate filling replenishment through the train of mechanism hereinbefore described.

The best results are secured by permitting the feeler to have short periods of activity and longer periods of inactivity, because thereby the recurring contact of the feeler with the filling during weaving with the same supplyin the shuttle, little or no injury to the filling results, even with the weaving of sensitive yarn, such as silk, or the use. By controlling the periods of activity and inactivity of the feeler from the take-up mechanism and by an actuator, substantially as described, the desired operation of the feeler is secured without the addition of a special train of operating mechanism and actuator, as would otherwise be required.

What is claimed is:

1. In a loom, the combination of the takeup mechanism for taking up the cloth as it is Woven, a feeler to detect substantial exhaustion of filling in the shuttle and thereupon to initiate filling replenishment, and means including a controller and a part connected to the take-up mechanism of the loom for operating the controller at intervals to cause the feeler to have short periods of activity and intervening longer periods of inactivity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle prior to substantial exhaustion thereof.

2. In a loom, the combination of the takeup mechanism for taking up the cloth as it is woven, a feeler to detect substantial exhaustion of filling and thereupon to initiate replenishment of filling, a catch for holding the feeler in retracted ino erative position, and a lug carried by the ta e-up mechanism and constituting an actuator for tripping the catch at intervals during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle that the feeler may have short periods of activity and relatively longer periods 'of inactivity.

3. In a loom, the combination of the takeup mechanism for taking up the cloth as it is woven, a feeler to detect substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle and thereupon initiate replenishment of filling, a catch for holding the feeler in retracted position with respect to the filling in the shuttle, a controller for tripping the catch, and a projection carried by a part of the takeup mechanism for causing the controller to trip the catch at intervals that the feeler may have short periods of activity and longer periods of inactivity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle. I'

4. In a loom, the combination of the takeup mechanism, an intermittently acting feeler to detect substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle and thereupon initiate replenishment of filling, a spring normally acting to project the feeler rearwardly into feeling position, a detent to hold the feeler retracted and inactive With respect to the filling, a lugconstituting an actuator carried by a member of the take-up mechanism, and means between the lug and detent and actuated by the lug at intervals for releasing the feeler that it may cooperate with the filling duringshortperiods of activity and be held inactive by the detent during longer periods of inactivity while weaving vgith the same supply of filling in the shutt e.

5. In a loom, the combination of the train of take-up mechanism for taking up the cloth as it is woven, a feeler to detect substantial exhaustion of the filling and thereupon initiate replenishment of filling, means to hold the feeler at rest in a position out Ofengagement with the filling on a detecting beat, mechanism including a part mounted on a member of the take-up mechanism and constituting an actuator to cause said means to release the feeler at intervals that it may engage the filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat at intervals and be restored to the control of said means if a working supply of filling is in the shuttle.

6. In a loom, the combination of the takeup mechanism, a feeler to detect-substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat and thereupon initiate replenishment of filling, means normally acting to hold the feeler inactive that it maynot injuriously contact with the filling, a projection mounted on a rotary element of the take-up mechanism and a device operated by said projection at intervals to free the feeler from said means that the feeler may engage the filling during short periods of activity and be returned to the control of said means that it may not engage the filling during longer periods of inactivity.

7. In a loom, the combination of the takeup mechanism. a feeler mounted to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis thereof to detect substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat and thereupon initiate replenishment of filling, means normally acting to hold the feeler inactive that it may not in juriously contact with the filling, a projection mounted on a rotary element of the take-up mechanism and a device operated by said projection at intervals to free the feeler from said means that the feeler may engage the filling during short periods of activity and be returned to the control of said means that it may not engage the filling during longer periods of inactivity.

8. In a 100m, the combination of a train of take-up mechanism, a feeler mounted to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis thereof and detect substantial exhaustion of the filling and thereupon initiate replenishment of filling, a catch for holding the feeler in a retracted position that it may not injuriously contact with the filling, a controller for controlling the catch, and an operating device secured to a member of the take-up mechanism and acting through the controller at intervals during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle to free the feeler that it may engage the filling during a period of activity and be returned to the holding influence of the catch until the feeler detects substantial exhaustion of the filling in one of its periods of activity.

9. In a loom, the combination of the takeup mechanism including a rotary element, a feeler, means for holding the feeler in retracted position that it may not engage the filling on detecting beats while so held, 'a controller for operating said means to free the feeler for engagement with the filling and permit the feeler to be returned to the control of the holding means should a working supply of filling be in the shuttle, and a controller actuator carried by the rotary element of the take-up mechanism for actuating the controller at intervals that the feeler may be rendered active for short periods at intervals and then inactive during Weaving With the same supply of filling in the shuttle.

10. In a loom, the combination of a feeler to detect substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle and thereupon initiate replenishment of filling, means for holding the feeler retracted from feeling position, a controller for freeing the feeler from said holding means, take-up mechanism, and a controller actuator adapted to be secured to a rotary elementof the take-up mechanism in predetermined positions to operate the controller at desired intervals that the feeler may have periods of activity and inactivity during Weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle.

11. In a loom, the combination of a feeler a controller for freeing the feeler from said holding means, take-up mechanism including a toothed wheel, a controller actuator adapted to be secured to the toothed wheel of the take-up mechanism in different positions and constituted as a projection extending from the toothed wheel to operate the controller at intervals that the feeler may have periods of activity and inactivity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle.

12. In a loom, the combination of a feeler to detect substantial exhaustion of filling and thereupon initiate replenishment, means for holding the feeler retracted from feeling position, a controller for said holding means including a rocker, take-up mechanism, and an actuator carried by the take-up mechanism for actuating the rocker and through the controller to release the feeler at intervals from the holding means that the feeler may be rendered active at intervals weavingwith the same supply of filling m take-up mwhanism including a toothed wheel in the train of said mechanism, an actuator constituted as a lug adapted to be secured to said toothed wheel of the takeup mechanism, a ieeler, a spring normally tending to project the feeler, means for holding the feeler in retracted inoperative position, a controller including a finger having a part normally held in the path of the actuator and movable thereby to operate the controller at intervals that the feeler may be freed from the holding means and become operative with respect to the filling in the shuttle for short intervals during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle and be returned to control of the holding means should the feeler detect a worln'ng supply of filling in the shuttle.

14. In a loom, the combination of a feeler, a spring normally tending to move the feeler to feeling position, a catch for holding the feeler in retracted inoperative position, a controller rod connected to the catch, a rocker connected to the controller rod, a finger for operating the rocker, and a device mounted on a member of the take-up mechanism for moving the finger at intervals and freeing the feeler for short periods of activity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle.

15. In a loom, the combination of a feeler, a spring normally tending to move the feeler to feeling position, a pivoted catch having a series of teeth arranged at different distances from the front of the loom for holding the feeler in retracted position, a controller connected to the catch, take-up mechanism for taking up the cloth as it is woven, a lug secured to a member of the take-up mechanism for actuating the controller to withdraw the catch from its holding position at intervals during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle that the feeler may become active fromtime to time to detect the condition of the filling and become inactive should the feeler detect a Working supply of filling in the shuttle and remain active in case the feeler detects a predetermined condition of exhaustion of the filling.

16. An intermittent feeler mechanism for looms whose periods of activity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle are controlled from the take-up mechanism, the combination of a feeler to detect substantial exhaustion of fillin and thereupon initiate replenishment of lling, means for holding the feeler in retracted frontward position, a rotary member of the take-up mechanism having a series of openings, a lug adapted to be secured in any one of said openings, and a connection with the holding'means actuated by said lug at intervals for rendering the feeler active from time to time during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle and then inactive until the filling has reached a predetermined degree of exhaustion.

17. An intermittent feeler mechanism for looms whose periods of activity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle are controlled from the take-up mechanism, the combination of a feeler to detect substantial exhaustion of fillin and thereupon initiate replenishment of lling,

I means for holding the feeler in retracted frontward position, a rotary member of the take-up mechanism having an actuating lug, a controller connected to the holding means, and ,a yielding finger connected to the actuator and having a part in the path of the lug for operating the controller at intervals to free the feeler from the holding means for short periods of activity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle until the filling reaches a predetermined degree of exhaustion.

18. An intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler to detect substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle and thereupon initiate replenishment of filling, a block, means for adjusting the block towards and from the front of the loom, a catch pivotally connected to the block for holding the feeler in retracted position, a controller connected to the catch, and means actuated from the take-up mechanism to operate the controller and trip the catch at intervals during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle that the feeler may have short periods of activity and longer periods of inactivity.

19. In a loom, the combination of a feeler for detecting substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle and thereupon initiating replenishment of filling, means for holding the feeler in retracted inoperative position, a rocker, a device mounted on a member of the take-up mechanism of the loom for rocking the rocker at intervals, and

means for transmitting movement of the 

